Neil Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012), the first man on the moon earned his Eagle Scout award in Wapakoneta, Ohio’s Troop 14 in 1947 just prior to entering Purdue University later that same year to begin his study of Aerospace engineering.

At the age of 15 Neil began taking flying lessons. On the way home from the Shawnee Council’s camp, Neil, another Scout and their Scoutmaster came upon an airplane crash involving both his flight instructor and a fellow student pilot. Although they quickly summoned help and administered first aid, only the flight instructor survived.

On the way to the moon in Apollo 11, Neil sent greeting to the National Jamboree, saying, in part,

Hello to all my fellow Scouts at Farragut State Park in Idaho . . . Apollo 11 would like to send them best wishes.

As an adult, he has also been recognized with the Distinguished Eagle Scout and Silver Buffalo awards. Ketchikeniqua Lodge, Shawnee Council based in Lima, Ohio, inducted Neil Armstrong into the Order of the Arrow.